Robert Elton Vernon Black Obituary (1943

Dr. Robert E.V. Black lost his long battle with prostate cancer on July 31st, 2016 at the age of 72. Born in Missoula, MT into meager beginnings, Bob showed an incomparable entrepreneurial spirit at a very early age. As a young boy in the Dalles, OR, he wrote and printed a local newspaper that he sold for a profit. He also ran another business raising and selling rabbits. While attending high school, he ran a successful photography business. After graduating from the Dalles High in 1962, Bob attained his Doctor of Optometry degree at Pacific University. Shortly after, he moved his family to Seattle joining an established practice in the Roosevelt district. A highlight of his early career was getting to attend games courtside while working as an optometrist for the Seattle Sonics. A short time later, he was drafted to the Navy to serve as an OD at the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland, CA where he established himself as a specialist in contact lenses. When Bob finished his naval commitment, he settled his family in Bremerton, WA where he would lead a long successful career and leave a lasting impact on the community. Originally in a partnership downtown, he later realized his dream of building his own practice on Perry Avenue. With interest rates in the double digits, virtually everyone including friends and family advised him against such a risky venture. Undeterred, he cleared his own land by hand and had a state of the art office constructed. Business boomed making Bob's office one of the largest contact lens practices in Washington state. Bob was an active community leader holding positions including; President of the Kitsap Optometric Association, Legal Chair and Secretary of the WA Optometric Association, President of Bremerton Kiwannis, President of Canterwood Golf and Country Club, peewee coach, and scouting volunteer just to name a few. He was a scratch golfer, accomplished photographer, nutritionist, carpenter...the list goes on and on. Most importantly, Bob was a loving father who still found time in his busy schedule for his family including Nancy, his wife of 54 years, sons Dean (Heather) and Bryan, and daughter Carrie (Darryl). Every weekend was filled with pee wee sports, camping, and road trips similar to the one in "Vacation". In his retirement, Bob spent his time golfing and enjoying his grandkids Taylor, Emma, Will, and Nate. He also took on a surrogate third son in Dr. Darryl Roundy, Carrie's husband, sharing similar backgrounds and many of the same interests including; nutrition, photography, and cars. There will never be another Bob Black. We will miss you our Dad and Papa! A Celebration of Life will be held at the Kitsap Conference Center on August 20th from 1-4pm. Any and all who knew Bob are welcome and encouraged to attend. Arrangements entrusted to www.lewischapel.com. In Memory of Dr. Black, donations may be made to his favorite charity in Bremerton, The Salvation Army.